Reloading Powders 101 — Somchem, Hodgdon & Vihtavuori

Reloading your own ammunition is the most rewarding rabbit hole in the shooting sports — better accuracy, tailored loads, and more trigger time per rand. But standing in front of a shelf of powder bottles can be overwhelming. Here's a plain-language introduction to the three powder families on our shelves — timed nicely with our July powder specials.

First, the golden rules

• Always work from published load data — the powder manufacturer's manual or a reputable reloading manual. Never guess, never copy a load off a forum.
• Start low, work up. Begin at the published starting load and increase in small steps while watching for pressure signs.
• One powder on the bench at a time. Most reloading accidents come from mixing up powders.
• Store powder cool, dry and sealed — and always in its original container.

Somchem — the local legend

Made in South Africa by Rheinmetall Denel, Somchem powders are the backbone of SA reloading: consistent, well-priced, and with load data developed for our calibres and conditions. The S-series covers nearly everything:

• S341 / S355 — medium-burn rifle powders; classic choices for .308 Win and similar mid-capacity cases.
• S361 / S365 — slower-burning; at home in .30-06, .270 Win and larger cases with heavier bullets.
• S385 — the slow-burner for magnums and heavy-for-calibre loads.

If you reload common SA hunting calibres and want maximum value, Somchem is where most reloaders start — and many never leave.

Hodgdon — the American benchmark

Hodgdon's reputation is built on consistency lot after lot, and their Extreme line shrugs off temperature swings — worth real money when your winter-zeroed load meets a hot October cull day.

• Varget — the do-it-all for .223 Rem with heavy bullets and .308 Win; a target-shooting institution.
• H4350 — practically the official powder of the 6.5 Creedmoor; superb in .270 and .30-06 too.
• Titegroup — a fast pistol powder; economical charges for 9mm, .38 Special and .45 ACP practice loads.

Vihtavuori — the Finnish precision choice

Vihtavuori is the powder you'll find in serious competition loading rooms: exceptionally clean-burning with tight lot-to-lot tolerances. N550, one of their high-energy N500 series, delivers extra velocity in .308-class and 6.5 mm cartridges without magnum-level charges. You pay a premium — and you get what you pay for.

Which should you buy?

Budget-conscious hunting reloads: Somchem. Temperature-stable precision: Hodgdon. Competition-grade consistency: Vihtavuori. Better yet — tell us your calibre, bullet weight and purpose at the counter, and we'll match you to data-backed options from what's in stock.

This month: all three families are on our July Powder Sale — Somchem from R499, Hodgdon from R1,099 and Vihtavuori/Vectan from R1,299, while stocks last until 31 July 2026. See the specials page for the full list.